Chapter 6
The lower floor of the refectory abounded in a merry buzz. Wooden mugs of honeyed rums clangs to and fro, joyful hollers resounded from catcalls to light arguments. Light blushes from alcohol dosages could be spotted on the cheeks of full-grown orcs, goblins and the small number of lizardmen, all knowing that later on in the day, they would be cursing their lack of prudency. But still now was the present and they wanted their part of the sweet rum and would gladly receive the later recompense with open arms.
The morning mass breakfast was a rowdy one.
The upper floor was set for the few select and main executives, where they commune occasionally with the citizens of the town. Today, their lord Rimuru, and his subordinates had come to join in the merriment of the addition of a certain kryptonian.
"Here you go, sir." A youthful goblina dressed up in animal garbs and an apron presented to the Light God, her face set in a beautiful smile, "Simmered sauce dripped chicken, with fried vegetable bisque. Here's a honeyed brew to go with it."
With an audible gulp Clark beholden the tantalizing culinary set placed before him. He tried to hide the craving on his face, but the table he sat was a long four-sided type, obviously the others who occasionally stole glances at him would have taken note. But while others tried to remain convert, even though Clark knew they were watching. The stocky dwarf Kajin,-Who Clark saw that didn't fit the stereotypical archetype of a dwarf- who had introduced himself to Clark some minutes earlier guffawed boisterously.
"A good man knows his food." He said while nodding.
"Hear! Hear!" At the other table opposite Clark's, two fellow dwarfs raised their mug cheerfully.
Clark who felt red faced didn't patronized the dwarf, looking at the goblin. The way the clearly older man chattered to him was quite strange, (Back home he couldn't talk to an elder so informally.) To the evolved goblin, he thanked in appreciation.
"It's nothing sir, please enjoy." She replied with a smile and left.
'A super physiology still doesn't mean one can't enjoy a good meal,' Clark thought with glee as he gently raised a fork to dig in, tearing out a piece of golden colored meat, he paused as the venison neared his lips, the others who watched in strangely at the kryptonian actions. But Rimuru who had an idea paused his eating. Dropping his cutlery, he said to Clark.
"Hey, don't worry all the cutlery are newly made, I had already thought that this might happen, so I took the necessary precaution."
Clark eyelids rose a bit higher as he returned with a grateful nod, pushing the food into his mouth, while he could still taste the sensations of hands, but the flavor the cuisine overpowered it all, exploding against his taste buds.
"This…!" Clark hissed with widen eyes, "Is so delicious!" In the corner of his mind he thought, 'Sorry mom but with this your supremacy as the best cook has been challenged and rightfully surpassed.' Unconsciously the world slowed down to a full stop, as the background muttering stop. Clark who still had his attention enraptured by the dish before him took no notice of his unintentional act, hands blurred as meat was torn and devoured in happiness, even the broth was amazing as a standalone not to mention when combined together. And when added with the mead.
"Wonderful!"
Sadly, the food had finally disappeared into his stomach, but he was satisfied. According to Villa he knew he could go on forever without eating, but still that one nature of humanity was one he wasn't ready to give up.
Tongue scouring between teeth for pieces of meat he thought, 'Yep a proper food, to begin a beautiful morning in another world.' The gasp of astonishment pulled away Clark away from his happy thought as he looked at the amazed gazes of the monsters present.
"What?"
"What?! Really is that all you say. What?" Kajin said, his voice higher than normal which considering his rumbling bass was quite loud, "How the hell did you do it kid? God or not, the way you ravished that food was just too astonishing, one second the first piece entered your mouth, the next second one whole chicken bulk disappeared. And it wasn't a small body." Every present nodded in agreement.
"Really, I thought I was just eating as I normally do." Clark shrugged confused.
"You…" The dwarf dragged out with a short laugh, shaking his head before turning back calling with a shout, "Gobuna! Bring out more food for the kryptonian and more for myself! This time make it a heap." Turning to Clark, he challenged with a fire in his eyes, "How about a little competition eh, as a proud dwarf apart from Rimuru-dono due to his biology, I will not stand anyone eating more than me."
"Sure, thing Kajin." From a partition, where the aroma was coming from, the voice of the goblina who had just served Clark food some seconds ago replied.
"Tell him Kajin!"
"Show him that god or not, no one eats more than a dwarf!" The two dwarfs cheered on as Kajin threw down the gauntlet.
"Eh!" Rimuru blinked at the sudden turn of events, this was supposed to be a peaceful morning, now it's about to turn into a food contest, "Wait-!"
"I accept old man," Clark cut Rimuru off with a smirk. While he knew nothing of dwarf's pride or what have you, he wouldn't say no the chance of more of that delicious food, with his body biology he knew things like being overfull or even hunger was now antediluvian. The power of the stars is now his sustenance. And, with a conniving smirk he thought, 'Let's see how your dwarf stomach would help you, while I'll superspeed through it all.'
Rimuru who saw the smirk gave a dry laugh while thinking. 'Kajin, Kajin,' He tutted in his mind, 'Look before you leap, if not it's only your stomach that will suffer.' He had an idea on what the Light God was thinking and knew that no matter what Kajin won't win. But he wouldn't say a word.
Let the dwarf suffer defeat for ruining his perfect breakfast.
'But who knows, maybe the blacksmith has an ace up his sleeve.' But even as Rimuru thought that he still wouldn't bet on it.
The banquet was served once more, while Rimuru and the others cleared the table which was now starting to crowd as the people from downstairs headed up on hearing about what was happening.
"It's becoming quite rowdy here," Rigurd brusquely noted, annoyed at the interruption of meal. Why did they had to do it now? He was famished and tired from the late-night dealings of yesterday, today he just wants a full meal before diving into his onerous activities, and now they don't want him to even do that.
A hand rested on Rigurd shoulder as he turned to see Benimaru bearing an understanding look, "I know Rigurd, I know…"
From the looks of the others, one could say they were on the same wavelength. As one they all thought contritely, 'And the food is going cold too, dammit all.'
The two contestants on the other hand stared at the other intently, as for the case of Clark he wanted to focus on something other than the crowd's racket. He really needed to do something about his super hearing, or he just might snap one day.
"Rimuru-sama has vested me with the authority to act as an umpire for this match, so you better not be doing anything funny, because this Gabiru's eyes can never be fooled." A purple horned lizardfolk dressed in light armor blithely trumpeted.
Ugh! Clark knew there was no way to escape meeting the lizard folks he saw yesterday, and while he might be able to manage his light aversion (much to his self-guilt and disgust) –it was still a work in progress- he just had to become inured to their appearance, as they too were normal in their own way… but!
"Gabiru-san, you're so cool!"
"Gabiru-san, serious respect!"
"Gabiru-san!"
While the Lizardfolk was posing for his, well cronies, Clark eyes twitched in a fitful spasm. Why did he had to meet a bizarre one?
Lips dragged down Clark to his shame considered punching the extravagant lizardman, but someone else fortunately did it for him.
"Ouch! Why did you do that Shion-sama?" Gabiru cried, as he nursed the added bump on his head.
"Shut up and do your job?" Shion eyes glowed with menace, as the mental image of a demon appeared behind her, "Or else…" Raising a clenched fist she punctuated.
The fully cowed lizardfloks shivered as the cronies huddled together while Gabiru shivered in his lonesome, all together they replied tearfully, "Yes mam."
Both Rimuru and Clark synonymous said mentally to their selves, 'Good job, Shion!'
Now reticent Gabiru began, "E-Eh, and now let's begin."
With a full beam Kajin said, "Prepare to lose Light God, to the pride of the dwarfs."
Clark feeling a bit riled up, replied animatedly, "In your dreams, old stuff."
Hakurou who had been quiet, unconsciously shook.
"READY…!"
The crowd and the umpire cried as one.
"GO!"
And the contestants dived right in.
…..
A few minutes later,
"I-I gwive up, ugh!" With a stuffed concession, the dwarf was finally laid to rest.
"And we have a winner! Ladies and gentlemen here's our new eating champion. The Light God, Clark Kent!" Gabiru animatedly announced.
"Clark Kent! Clark Kent! Clark Kent! Clark Kent!"
The crowd animatedly hollered as the mess hall, rumbled from the decibels of the monsters. Even as he winced a small smile was seen on his face, Clark felt really at home with this people, and their hospitability were just endearing in its own way.
Shion who was beside Rimuru slouched, "Now that they're through with this spectacle, can we please get back to the eating!"
Chuckles burst forth from some of the individuals in the crowd who had heard the purpled hair kijin petulant grumbling as they all returned back to their various tables at the lower floor, but not before some gave congratulatory pats to the kryptonian.
"Not the kind of morning you would have expected." Rimuru said as they all settled down with new steaming helpings.
"Yeah…" Clark slowly replied as other servings were presented to him, "But I can get used to this."
Rigurd who heard it scoffed, "Yeah please don't, it has to be a one kind of thing," As he added in a light mumble, "It just have to be, if nothing else but for my stomach."
The group all laughed as one, Geld shook his head in amusement, as he saw the flopped form of Kajin, while Rimuru and Clark observed the milieu with smiles.
It really was a good morning.
-TRoaKH-
"So, what are you gonna' do after this?" Clark asked the Demon Seed slime.
They stood by the now cleared hall, the citizens droned out chattering as they set out for their day's work, the clinking of plates and cutlery as they were gathered and taken to the kitchen.
Kajin was carted away by his brothers with an amused Kurobe who followed while periodically shaking his head. Benimaru and Souei moved on to check up with the security forces, Geld went to begin the menial labor for the day, while Rigurd went to begin his overseer activities and Shuna to the workhouse.
Shion opted to stay with her lord for in her own words, 'Protection against unknown qualities.' Maybe she still harbors some grudge for the smack-down of yesterday, 'But really woman, if Clark really wanted to do something could you really stop it?' With a sigh Rimuru answered to the kryptonian.
"Nothing really. All I do on most days is to make rounds, see how everyone is doing and, on some occasions, hear out complaints that couldn't be handled by my subordinates, really monotonous if you ask me."
Clark winced, "I feel for you man, fantasy world or no, it's going to be boring at some point."
"You really get me Clark. No TV, no games whatsoever, but this is my lot as a leader, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else." The adoring ' Rimuru-sama' from Shion was smoothly ignored as Rimuru asked his own, "So what are you going to do today, Clark?"
"Hmm… " Stretching his arm up as he steeple his fingers, the jacket slipped past his shoulders stopping just below it, which Rimuru could idly say, made him appear like those romance novel cover models. The smirk on Clark's lips brought Rimuru back, "Well you know I'm in a fantasy world, and my powers in one way or the other is related to Superman, and now that I have time to myself, so tell me Rimuru what do you think I'm about do?"
With stars in his eyes Rimuru knew the answer, the hint was too obvious. Rimuru also tests his every new power he gets, all of them without fail for documentary and for coolness. But to see his power, the power of Superman. Now that's something he just had to see.
Failing to hide his enthusiasm, Rimuru almost latched on Clark's arm as he asked in anticipation, "Are you really going to do, what I think you are about to do?"
"And what do you think I'm about to do, eh?" Even though Clark asked, but Rimuru noted he did not deny that was going to test his powers. Oh, now he's done it, he just had to see it.
"I've got to come with you please," Rimuru appealed with dopey eyes.
"Gurgh!" The transition of Rimuru's behavior threw Clark off his tune, "We-Well, I was going to ask if you want to come with me anyway, I need someone to show me a place where I can let loose a little."
Pumping a fist Rimuru cheered. From the recess of his mind, his Unique Skill sighed.
[Master…]
'What?' Rimuru asked defensively, 'I'll have you know, I have a justifiable reason for me to go with him as he tests his powers. When I asked for a full account from Benimaru and the others, they told me something that bothered me. Their attacks had no effect. And that should be impossible considering that the Man of Steel is vulnerable to magic of any kind, and when you take the fact that he is literally radiating magic… this little outing should help me answer that, and if possible, you could help me analyze his abilities, just in case.'
[Yes Master. But are you sure there isn't nothing else?]
'Eh well, I also want to see the heat vision, cold breath and the others, I mean come on his actually here, the real Superman. If you really thought I would actually not take the chance to spectate at front row, then you clearly do not know me well Great Sage.'
[I understand Master.]
'Thank you, Great Sage.'
[That you are a hard-core Otaku.]
'Oi!'
Letting out a mental sigh, Rimuru began to consider when his Unique Skill had become so inquisitive, his attention back to Clark, he said. "So, when do you think you're ready to go?"
"Now if it's possible?"
With a short nod, Rimuru spun to a particular corner, "Oi Souka, you know we all can see you right? I know Souei sent you to check up on Clark, but please just do it openly, it's making even me uncomfortable."
Clark gave on outward sign of surprise as the spy-girl from yesterday shimmered into view, dressed in the same red ninja attire as before. He had felt her eyes scrutinizing him from when he had left the inn till now, he had presumed that they wanted to keep an eye on him, and truthfully for the right reasons, so he made no effort in pointing her out, but since she had the called out by Rimuru, then there was nothing left for him to do.
'But still, I talk to Rimuru so that she can talk to her people on what they should be looking and what not, cause if I see them when I want to take a bath…'
Falling on one of her knees, Souka apologized, "I sincerely apologize Rimuru-sama, and to you as well Kent-sama."
"It's Clark, please no need for formalities, not too comfortable with the Lord part."
Lifting her head to see the Light God at such a close distance she slowly replied, "Yes sir, I mean, Clark." Those eyes drew her in again. Feeling self-conscious, Souka quickly swerved her face to the side, much to the bemusement of Clark and Shion, and an amused Rimuru.
'This guy is kind of smooth,' Rimuru thought a little bit envious for no reason.
The ninja dragonewt stood up, her body stiffened as she stood before the three most powerful individuals she knew, questioning once more why Souei-sama had assigned to her such an important assignment, "I am Souka, Vice-Captain of the Shadow Squad. I've been charged by Souei-sama to act as your escort and helper in your stay." Her introduction short and succinct.
While Clark was struggling not to burst out in laughter at the cringed name, - Shadow Squad (Only eighth graders call themselves that.)- He still wasn't surprised by what she said, Souei, as he observed still didn't trust him, or rather was afraid of him. The ninja kijin saw him as an uncontrollable factor and decided to use a softer approach as he knows that force was not an option.
Not that I blame him.
With a wry smile he nodded back, "Then I'll take you up your tour offer later." To Rimuru he asked, "So, do you have an idea on where we can go?"
With a tooth showing grin the slime bobbed, "Yep, more than a hundred miles away, the Cannat mountain ranges, there should be a sufficient amount of terrain for you to play with."
"That's nice to hear, but you said more than a hundred miles… we won't make it there by walking," He muttered to himself, looking to the others he asked, "Quick question can any of your fly? And if you can how fast?"
Only Rimuru answered, "Well I can as a result of my unique trait, and for how fast, well I safely say I can move faster than the speed of sound."
"Seriously, damn that cool!" Faster than sound, now Clark had to know what the slime could do. But still while Rimuru was fast the others weren't. He moved his jaw in thought before deciding to put into practice one of his powers, 'I needed a live subject to test it out anyway.'
But he needed to do it carefully. The repercussion of using this power carelessly was too hazardous.
"Shion, Souka, I'm about to try something, and I need, to touch you to do this?"
"Touch me?... Touch me!? " Shion looked at Clark guardedly, "I refuse to let you touch me, my body belongs only to Rimuru-sama!"
"Wait a minute!" Clark waved his hands in pacification as he saw the kijin summon her sword in a flash of purple and was about to pull out her blade, "I didn't mean in a risqué manner, I just want to touch any part of your body, it could even be your hands." As he saw Shion bring down her weapon but still in a way that was threatening, he gave a mental huff.
'So, she's one of those huh,' Clark thought looking at Rimuru who seemed perplexed, the overprotectiveness now seemed a little more reasonable, humming he shrugged, well it doesn't concern him anyway.
"So, Kent-sama- I mean… Clark, sir." Souka began, with her face tinged red, and she still doesn't know why, the last time such a thing happened was…! No she wouldn't go there. Straitening herself while trying to clear away the red, she continued. "Why do you require such physical contact?"
"Well, you girls want to follow us right…? Well at least one wants to be with her lord. And while Rimuru and I are up ahead, you both wouldn't be able to keep up the pace." Clark kept quiet waiting for objections hearing none he continued, "So I decided to give you girls a little boost to set the stage."
Both looked at the other, while Shion seeks out the go ahead from her lord Rimuru who nodded back, "Well go on Shion, I'm kind of interested in what Clark wants to do." Rimuru said, while mentally informing Great Sage to analyze what was about to happen.
With his approval given both women stepped forward, tentatively presenting their hands, well Shion dispersed her sword before lifting hers.
"It isn't going to be long; I know what I'm doing." Clark said reassuringly while keeping the 'I hope' part to himself.
Taking both their hands, the Light God closed his eyes, an instant later his eyes quivered as what appeared to be yellow flames spilled through the lids. Later on, what Rimuru would call an indescribable maelstrom of energy washed through him, luckily it didn't travel out, as it felt confined within the kryptonian.
It felt powerful, to Rimuru it was like an inveterate bottomless chasm, the void it held drew him in closer and closer, like how one would be fascinated by a dark pit… until it suddenly stopped as a moment later Clark released his hand. Both humanoid monsters winced while massaging the sides of their head.
"What… what was that?" Shion dazedly muttered, clenching her head as she was assailed with a plethora of information.
"This… power," Souka on the other hand could feel something had been added to her, something she dared say felt more powerful than Rimuru-sama's might to an absurd degree. Looking at the Light God who now gave them impish smiles, she concluded that the term, 'Light God' was just not for show.
"So, what did you do Clark?" Rimuru asked bemused, he had asked his sentiment Skill and shockingly was replied with a negative. What Clark just did was clearly not magic as it didn't possess an ounce of magicule particles. Great Sage had already been speculating the reason for Clark's ability mystery, but this was more than enough proof.
Clark had a goddamn Ultimate Skill. And a ridiculously powerful one to boot, but the question was what it was.
"Well, you'll see." Clark cryptically replied as slowly his feet left the earth, floating up, he said. "So, what are you waiting for Rimuru, let's go." And shot up higher.
Shaking his head at the hyperactive kryptonian, he looks to his personal secretary, "So Shion-…!" Rimuru unasked question halted as he saw both kijin and dragonewt also floating, "How are you two doing that?"
Shrugging Shion said, "I don't know how myself Rimuru-sama, once he touched me a powerful energy swept through me, and a load of information just jam-packed into my brain, all of a sudden I knew I could fly, and even how to do so." Now spotting a mischievous smile, she continued, "Your face Rimuru-sama, it's kind of funny you know." And moved up as well.
With a full bow Souka followed up, while Rimuru shook his head, "I really shouldn't be surprised. Who else but Superman, even though it's Prime." His cloth rippled, from his shoulder blades, bat like wings spread out melding with his clothes, "It seems like today will give me a whole new meaning of Superman." And blasted off in gusty dusts.
'Really glad it worked,' Clark thought as he hung in the air while waiting for the others to catch up. Clark wasn't a hundred percent sure it actually would. According to Villa, his method executing his powers would be much easier than his comic counterpart, as it was ingrained in his soul, and the fact that the method of activation was already known to him. And it really was so.
Giving a spin as he ascended, Clark marvel at his gift of flight, it was just like moving a limb that was already there. Without Villa he knew such a thing would have been trickier to utilize. Giving a mental thanks, his A.I replied back blithely.
{You're welcome.}
Looking up the sky he smiled. It really was beautiful, and the fact that he was closer to it without any form was support was just magical. Looking around, he saw the trees went on for miles upon miles, showing that it really was a big forest. Now that he paid attention Clark could hear the tropical heartbeat of forest. Growls of predators, the annoying chirps of birds that passed overhead which of most he didn't recognize. Releasing what little hold he had on his ears he could hear the communications of beings far away from the forest. A place called Dwargon… if he got it correct. It was things like this, the abilities he displayed only showed that the Human Clark Kent was no more, he was now more. He doesn't see himself as a god, but what else could you call someone who could do what he did, back in his reality a deity of sorts was what such a person would have been called.
Giving himself two chiding pats on his cheeks, Clark shook his head. To think like that would be a great foolishness, even with all his powers Superman in the comics has been on the losing end more times than Clark could count, and his colored parallel was even stronger –well some of his incarnations, - so for Clark to think himself as a god is just dooming himself.
"Why did you go leave me like that?" The voice of Rimuru brought him back as the slime had now caught up with his subordinates beside him. On his back Clark could see the wings that grown out of Rimuru's back, it gave him a kind of edge like look.
Shrugging Clark smirked, "No reason, I just wanted to test it out, my flight I mean." Performing a flip, he continued, "When given a chance to fly without wings man would take it in a heartbeat, so why don't you show me where our testing ground is supposed to be. Let's do it race style."
"Hmm~ you an amateur flights-man really want to go one on one with one of the best flyers in the forest? Oh, you're on."
Shion cut in objecting, "Bur Rimuru-sama, how am I supposed to stay by your side?"
Rimuru waved his hand brushing her concern, "You know where am going so no need to fret."
Clark turned to the taciturn Souka, "I'll see you there."
"Yes Clark, sir." The girl replied back stiffly eliciting a sigh from Clark. 'If she really wants to stick around, she really needs to loosen up that uptight attitude.'
"Ready to experience your first defeat Clark." Rimuru taunted.
"I could ask you the same thing."
Rimuru pointed to the blurry green mountains surrounded by mist as their goal. It really was far, Clark remarked to himself, far enough that he actually had to wait for some seconds before he could get a clear view.
As Shion began to cheer her lord, she looked at the dragonewt ninja beside her who remained silent, "Souka, what's the matter?"
With a light jump, Souka gave some space on the air, "It's nothing Shion-sama, I am just wondering who the winner of the race would be."
Placing both hands on her hips Shion said confidently, "Well we both know that Rimuru-sama, there is no need to speculate much further is there."
Souka only gave a shaky nod at the looming kijin. Shion-sama really is scary!' She thought. But that wasn't a surprise, everyone knew the relationship between Shion to Rimuru-sama was pure devotion bothering fanaticism, great was her faith to not even consider defeat on his person. Souka too was loyal to Rimuru-sama, but even she could admit it wasn't to the level of the berserker princess.
Maybe that was why she could Rimuru-sama's nervousness, the way his eyes shrank showed the uncertainty of the race's outcome as opposed to relaxed stance of the Light God… well she could only wait and see.
"READY…"
Both flyers took their positions as Shion called while her eyes remain supportively on her lord,
"GO!"
An instant later both kijin and dragonewt were flung in the air with the sonic boom that followed, their charge promptly gone.
It was interesting race indeed.
…..
Teeth grinding Rimuru upped his ante to full speed as the mountains zoomed in at full view. Maybe I might be able to win this.' But when he turned back Clark wasn't there. Did I actually blow him away?' Rimuru lips twitched, but nah~ who was he kidding, if Clark wasn't behind him then he quickly turned front only to see…
"What took you so long Rimuru, I've been waiting for you for a long~ time." Clark hung in the air while doing mock stretches, while the slime slowed to a halt. It wasn't even three seconds that they both took off, but Clark was apparently here already.
What speed?' Rimuru shook his head in amazement. There really was no challenge at all to no one's surprise, the Demon Seed slime included.
Whelp he could tick off the 'Race with your favorite Hero' wish list. And also say with full authority that kryptonians were super crazy fast.
Clark guffawed as if he knew what the slime was thinking.
Only you Superman, only you.
-TRoaKH-
It's perfect, Clark concluded as he looked around the terrain he was provided with, the scent of green grass and the blue clear sky provided an idyllic stage. The mountain rose and fell around them like frozen waves as he stood in the clearing.
On the side a pouting Shion stood comforting her perplexed lord to not take heart on his lose, even though it seemed like she was the only one affected. Souka cleverly gave some space for the kijin to vent for a while as she remained spectating of the view around them alert for anything that may spring up.
"So, which one are you starting with first?" Rimuru asked in excitement, while he thought in glee. Was it going to be the famous Heat Vision, which held the might of contending with a full blast from the Sphere of Gods, or the chilled Artic Breath that froze a planet to the point even as it neared an alien sun it didn't dissolve, or that strange thing he pulled back town. Oh he just wanted to see! The slime knew he wouldn't be able to learn it, from what he knew of Ultimate Skills, they were the pinnacle of Skills and as such couldn't be copied normally. But this was The Superman.
But unknown to Rimuru and the others, Clark had already been utilizing one of his abilities since this morning. Pulling on his HUD idly he noted the succulent information that had been presented to him.
Rimuru Tempest
Monster Species: Demon Seed Slime
Accumulative Threat level: Special A rank (Middle stratum) Calamity Class {?}
.
Shion
Monster Species: Kijin
Accumulative Threat Level: A rank (Upper stratum) Hazard Class
.
Souka
Monster Species: Dragon-newt
Accumulative Threat Level: B rank (Upper stratum) No Class
It wasn't truly a Skill per say, rather it was a function of the Inheritance System. Villa takes into account the total amount of magicules –that really was a word- an individual expels and calculate them using the method of classification of this world in determining their combat power, and from her her own words ' without fail'. From E to Special S rank, all individuals are brought under the acumen of the A.I, even if their abilities are suppressed or indistinct would uncover before the Eight Level intellectual A.I.
'Still though…' As Clark skimmed through the information presented, he couldn't help but grimace. Calamity, Hazard. What kind of naming logic was that? They all sounded like insults! Even remembering his own was flinch worthy enough.
Disaster…
Ah! If anyone calls him, that the Light God will bury his head in shame.
Forcing himself out of his reverie with a loud breath, that produced a slight blustery effect, Clark said, "First off I want to test my strength, and my speed." But then as he looked around, he commented on the surroundings, "But I don't know where to start. It's not like in the comics where there is a lab where I can just go to and be placed under a simulated press to exert my strength and start to push nor where there is a treadmill, I use to determine speed. Unless I try lifting one of these mountains."
Rimuru shot him a queer look, 'Lift a mountain he says.' If it was someone else saying this, the slime would have slapped such an individual on the head and bid him a terrible day, but this was Clark… he really didn't think this through. If by mistake one of his more dangerous abilities goes the beyond this section and into the forest… it would be a disaster!
Yeah, Clark would cringe in agreement.
"Wait Clar-!"
"I got it!" The kryptonian snapped his fingers, looking excitedly at the slime and the others, "What is one of your fastest attacks?"
Both kijin and dragonewt looked at themselves, before Shion first replied, "I don't think my attack will be fast for you Light God. Mine is a discharge of energy from my Odachi, you have seen it before." The last part added pointedly.
Giving an uncomfortable nod, Clark moved to Souka who shook her head, "My apologies, but I too do not possess any kind of fast attack that would be to your liking in my repertoire."
"Fast attack huh…" Rimuru placed a hand on his chin, well Clark idea was better than what he speculated, beats an idea of throwing beams and blasts of ice and fire aimlessly. So he asked speculatively, "Clark… do you consider lightning as a high-speed attack."
"I do. And you can even do lightning?"
"Yeah, but I'm not an adept. But I got someone who is... oy Ranga, I need you to come out." From behind Rimuru his shadow abruptly trembled as from it took the form of the horned wolf he saw yesterday, clearly smaller. Shaking its lupine head, the tempest wolf trotted to its master, tail in an excited full swing.
"You have called for me Rimuru-sama." He paused, extending polite greetings to the Shion and Souka while ignoring Clark who gave a wry smile.
Rimuru who was sore with Ranga blatant cheeky display, threw the wolf a look that made its ears to lower in shame.
The tempest wolf spun to Clark and lowered his head, "A good day to you."
Clark blinked bemused as he didn't see the eye play between the slime and wolf, "Same to you."
'What a child…' Rimuru shook his head, at least he listens. Nodding satisfied he said, "So Ranga, I want you to perform your Inherent Art 'Death lightning' and…" He paused looking at Clark, "How do you want him to use it?"
Clark settled down for this one, even though he had thought about it how should he test himself with it… he did have an idea, but in his old world it was too preposterous, he even wondered whether it's his hubris on what he's become that is deciding for him, but this wasn't his old world, -he always had to keep that in mind- and most importantly he was different, at least better now than in an unfavorable condition. 'If what Villa told me was correct, then anything less than Ultimate Skills won't work on me, so I should be safe.' With that in mind he replied.
"Let him use it to strike at me."
Rimuru blinked nonplused, "Well… you heard the man Ranga, that's what you're going to help him with."
Even the wolf himself appeared confused by his lord's request. To the kryptonian he asked tentatively, "So, you want me to use my lightning on you."
"Yep."
"Ok, at what level?"
"Full power if possible."
Ranga looked back at his master who shrugged, then Shion and Souka who appeared to be in the same state as him before looking back, "Are you sure?" While he would love nothing more than to comply, he still had to verify what had just been said, Rimuru-sama would be unpleased with him if he attacks without cause, and while he knew his Species Art wasn't the most dangerous amongst Rimuru-sama subordinates –that belonged to Benimaru- his was one of the hardest to dodge from and no less hurtful.
Seeing that no one objected then the wolf shrugged, "No matter what I do now, it's on your head, my lord and I are free from the sin." And then he gave a vicious smile, "That I should bear my powers against you at full power will be your downfall Light God." His body began to bulge, "I hope you do not come to regret it."
Rimuru at the side shook his head sighing, 'Oh Ranga…'
Teeth bared, Ranga began to increase in size, his muscles bulged in mass, his claws hardened, fangs sharpened, and an extra horn appeared at the top of his head. The power that coursed through him filled the wolf with such emotions a howl flowed out.
Back at Jura Tempest Federation, some of the wolves began to bow much to the confusion of their goblin riders.
This was Ranga's gift as the Tempest Wolf, the power that represents a portion of the power of the True Dragon of Storms. The sky obeyed, and the elements answered to his call. Up above the clear firmament began to grey, darker and darker till premonition of storms could no longer be denied. The bloodline in Ranga wants rampage show out the strength of caller of storms, one who is above all canine creatures, to prove he was among the apex of the forest, but that itch quickly died down. This was for the honor of his lord Rimuru.
The opponent who was his not-so-enemy stood before him confidently, someone who fancied himself a god, but Ranga swears he will bring him down!
With another howl, yellow lightning sizzled from the horn and shot up into the sky, it was like adding an ingredient to the clouds, cause after some moments later peals of lightning threatened to fall down.
"Even without the aid of my brethren, this is the full might of the Tempest wolf of Jura Tempest, take this Light God. Inherent Skill, Death lightning…"
Above Clark the lightning cloud stilled.
"Strike him!"
With a discordant roar, a yellow pillar of lightning sporting an unusual breadth fell from the heavens streaking in reputable speed.
'Eh what can I say, this guy really is vociferous.' Clark sweatdropped and then smirked at the incoming lightning as his perception began to dial down. If it wasn't for the light air resistance Clark felt against his body, and the way the world first exploded in murky colors, before turning back to its normal visibility in additions to the thick accents that came with it, Clark would have thought that he was manipulating time.
The lightning that fell slowed to a fast runner's pace, and then a turtle crawl, finally to a halt. Looking to the side, he observed the various expressions that held on his frozen audience. The look of vicious victory on Ranga, the apparent support of Shion, the surprising hint of concern on Souka, and Rimuru countenance of faith.
While Clark was pleasantly surprised at the yellow eyes girl's faith, there was something that bothered him.
But still what was it?' Clark thought as he moved over leaving behind visible spectral after-images. Rimuru's eyes, as Clark observed, it felt strange. There it is again' Clark thought as the yellow eyes seemed to twitch imperceptibly.
Eyes widened in realization as to what was happening, Was the girl trying to observe his speed?' He wondered. But how was she doing it? Clark speculated perhaps it was one of those, a, what was it called again…? Ah yes, a Unique Skill. From what Villa told him, most OtherWorlders usually acquire such Skills at their time of arrival, as a result of oversaturation of magicules in their bodies.
Not like he understood the magical technicalities whatsoever.
But still, this wasn't about Rimuru, it was to test his speed, he went back and released his perception a little as the lightning crashed against the earth before switching it back. Concluding that as impossible as it sounds, he is faster than lightning.
'Even I can't believe it. And I'm the one who's standing here, while everything is frozen solid.' He would have wanted to test more, see where his limits lay, but this was apparently the fastest Rimuru and the others could provide. Maybe he could try racing his optical beams.
Shaking his head quickly he got rid of that line of thought.
But now that he has tested his speed what of his strength, as he mulled, he moved idly towards the frozen lightning etch, marveling at its intensity. And if nothing else just the width of this alone surpassed the size of any he had seen on earth through internet videos. Cautiously he slowly reached a hand, pausing for a moment before continuing while releasing a breath. The hand that touched the lightning wasn't stunned in the slightest. But Clark attributed it to his obvious biological physique.
The ionized plasma scent was tingling to his nose, it was apparent that there was something else in the pong, probably magic. As Clark caressed while marveling at the solidity and beauty of nature's wrath. An idea slowly took root in his head.
And it was a crazy one.
Huffing Clark shook his head, since the time he came to this world nothing was the same in comparison to his old one, besides he could also test his ability more.
A hand firmly on the yellow fulguration, he called upon one of the powers etched into his soul.
"Ultimate Skill." He began. Even though he felt like a child calling the name of his ability, but apparently under the world's laws this is how it works, when one initiates his skill for full effect. "RAO THE LORD OF STARS, Sub-effect… "
His vision turned yellow and from his eyes discharged yellow like flames, "Endless Psionic: stage 1." The flames gushed out even stronger, as the rush flowed through him, filling him with greater energy than before.
Kryptonians apart from being gods of physical strength were also masters of psychics. It shouldn't have been surprising when one considers, the implicit reference to Superman limitless potential in mental energy the only problem was that he never cultivated it. But as a result of Clark's Ultimate Skill which provided the activation familiarity, using it at this stage was like child's play.
He couldn't wait to see what the other 4 stages would give.
Rippling golden energy spread out from his placed hand covering the entire jagged pillar, which began to twist while spiraling down, with a pull, a section was dragged out with the Light God's energy suffused in it still changing its shape. At the end what was left was a javelin shaped bolt of velvety surface, across its body occasional sparks of lightning could be seen.
'Hey Villa,' He spoke to his A.I mentally. 'How strong do you think this lightning bolt is now?'
Immediately the interface artificial intelligence replied, {Four times stronger, than its original potency.}
Whistling Clark looked at the red charred ground, the earth marred red in frozen time. If he considers what has just been said Well, that's a lot. Twirling the javelin bolt, he set some distance between himself and the others as he took a poise. Now he had proven his speed, next would be his strength.
Face heavenward, legs apart, left hand forward while right hand back with a clenched fumigation the Light God, has decided to test how far he can throw. Remembering his school days of watching inter-house sports, and Olympics he unconsciously emulated their form.
And with narrowed eyes, the kryptonian threw as hard as he could.
When time resumed an earth rending sonic boom ensued.
…
"Strike him!"
Rimuru shook his head as he felt the glee within the wolf's tone, but it wasn't really surprising. Ranga was always antagonistic to those he considers strangers in one way or the other always straight up brusque, but really Ranga needs to dial it down. 'Loyalty is good and all, but precaution is always appreciated.'
As the lightning struck the strangest thing subsequently happened.
[Sub-effect, Thought Acceleration.] Great Sage abruptly announced.
'What?' Rimuru could only get out as his perception began to slow to a crawl, until he processed the world in slow motion. The lightning while still approaching with enough speed became manageable, but to his not-so greatest surprise the kryptonian became a distortion. He could see the afterimages Clark created as he ran but couldn't see the Light God himself.
He tried focusing on Clark but apart from the time when he stopped in front of him, the rest was just too blurry to Rimuru, what happened next surprised him even so. Ranga's lightning bolt was snapped in half, and the energy from before was here again, only this time magnitude stronger. The afterimages left some distances away, the bolt was angled in a throwing poise and then.
Time resumed and Rimuru was thrown away by a sudden shockwave.
It was then the words he was about to say completed itself, "What the fuck?!"
…..
It began with bang that exceeded the sound barrier, the ground below Clark cratered into fragments, as from his hand down to his body, the manifestation of air distortion passed through him. The instant it touched the chipped earth, the earth below erupted with the destructive wave spreading out in a circumnavigated shape, grass uprooted replaced by the soil below far while spreading wide for miles.
A curse filled squawk was followed by the yelps of a wolf and cries of the female monsters, showing that the ladies were surprised by the sudden happening. As for the javelin bolt, it punted through the skies with enough force to return the weather back to its sunny state, leaving the sky of the Great Jura Forest devoid of even a single puff of white cloud. As for the bolt, it crossed into space for over miles away puncturing any unfortunate space rock that stood in its way, it would probably shimmer off but with the power and momentum it carried it wouldn't be anytime soon.
The unintended destruction on the other hand back at the ranges devastated the entire clearing.
Clark winced as he spotted the others stomping towards him all in varying states of displeasure.
Yeah, he didn't think this through.
…
"So, spill, what was that?" Rimuru asked, after spending ten minutes lecturing Clark on the need for consideration of other beings when playing with dangerous objects.
Shion was still breathing heavily while glaring at the Light God, once again her suit has been ruined because of the same individual. She had already pulled out her sword to engage in battle, when she had been stopped by her lord Rimuru. It was only through great reluctance she disengages when Rimuru-sama promised her a hug, to her caffeinated delight.
For whose benefit remains yet unseen….
Souka was clearing her hair of remnant dusts while glancing occasionally at the Light God. She wasn't given a full explanation on what happened but from what she saw, his power was just as she suspected. Looking up at the skies, she amended, it's probably even more.
The clouds were now where to be seen and the entire circumference of the lowland of four miles had been tilted over. Looking back to its perpetrator, she unconsciously shivered. They were dealing with a Demon Lord Class individual, a very powerful one.
Clark who slouched under the weight of Rimuru's scolding decided to spill the beans, well not all of it, but enough to satisfy her, with a sigh he said. "It's an Ultimate Skill."
Rimuru nodded knowingly, proving to Clark that she already had an inkling that was the case. Ranga slanted confused, Shion raised an eyebrow while filing the term to her memory to ask Shuna what that meant, Souka who had heard the term before but didn't remember what it meant, decided to add it to her report to Souei-sama.
"So, which is it?" Rimuru asked.
Clark still a little queasy on giving the name of his Skill, created a transparent force field much to the indignation of the slime's subordinates, Rimuru lifted a hand to quell the others while turning to Clark who said.
"It's a sound force field," He explained, continuing solemnly, "Look if I tell you what my Ultimate Skill is, I want you to promise never to tell anyone without my permission. Do you agree?"
Rimuru bemused but excited nodded, Clark relaxed at that and said, "Well my Ultimate Skill is RAO LORD OF STARS." And then dispensed the force field.
"Seriously." Rimuru blinked in amazement, while the others drew closer, "Not something like SUPERMAN THE PROTECTOR, it's actually Rao who is kind of like the Zeus for Superman, damn~ man you're lucky. So the thing you pulled back then." The last part Rimuru said as a question.
Clark who regained his smile said, "It's something inherent to all kryptonians," The others pulled together listening in rapt attention, "It's the manipulation of psychic's energy of all forms."
"Psychic's energy?" Shion interrupted bemused.
Looking at her Clark nodded, "Think of it as the manipulation of something different from magicules," Rimuru who heard that noted that Clark already had an idea on what magicules were even though this was his second day, another suspicion was growing, but he was satisfied with this. For now…
As Clark continued, his eyes began to glow yellow, and his hands were wreathed in a flaming like yellow aura, "Force Field," A transparent dome of yellow shimmers appeared surrounding his body flickering for a few moments, "Telekinesis," The earth around them shivered as globs of soil arose in their hundreds spinning around for some time before dropping back, 'Telepathy,' This he broadcasted into their heads, unheeding of the scowls Shion and Ranga threw at him.
"And Aura Manipulation." The flaming aura on his hand molted into a more viscous shape shifted taking forms of a bird, monkey, imitating the sounds they make. He even creating the figure of a roaring wolf much to Ranga's begrudging fascination.
"There are many things psionic manipulation could do, I'm still learning them all, but at the stage I'm in, the only thing I got going is raw power."
Rimuru nodded in understanding, "So the thing you did to Shion and Souka back then was aura manipulation." He speculated.
Clark nodded, "That is correct. Specifically, I used aura manipulation to transfer a sliver of my energy which I refined to tactile telekinetic energy, and then input the method of utilization in their brains through telepathy, "To Shion and Souka he said, "By the end of the day all the remaining energy would have died off and so would the message I inputted so don't worry."
Shion huffed turning away, while Souka merely nodded. But deep in their hearts they wished it wasn't so, that feeling of flight, the clouds above a touch away and the tip of the trees below creating a verdant view was incredible, and to see it gone while not life changing, would be saddening.
Clark not knowing what the pair of kijin and dragonewt were thinking was nodding to himself. The inherent physiology of a kryptonian wasn't for show'. While there was the power and all it was his ultra-processing and comprehensive characteristics that helped him in understanding all that Villa had explained him about this world, the magicules, and even gave him a clear grasp on the workings of his powers.
"Now next up," He clapped widely to the audience, "Since I've already tested my speed and my strength, now I want to try this psionic right away, so ideas anyone?"
"Clark, sir." Souka called out, "Since you said your psionic energy at this stage only provides you with raw power, maybe you can test with your range and potency… Like your telekinesis, what it can pull, at what size is its limits and how far is your area of control."
Rimuru at the side nodded in agreement, "Nice idea Souka, couldn't have thought of a better idea myself."
Hastily bowing, Souka said gratified, "No my lord, it was just an idle thought."
Shion pouted petulantly folding her arms, "Well I could have thought of a better idea myself." Ranga nodded in agreement.
Rimuru shrugged, "Well you could have but would any of you have said it?" He asked with an arched eyebrow.
Both kijin and tempest wolf both flinched, "Ugh!" Well, there was his answer.
Clark hearing what Souka said was also in consonance, telepathy while cool to experiment might just stir up unwanted hornet nest, the others were just boring, and aura manipulation while fun still required concentration that took too much time apart from small figures, leaving telekinesis which in Clark's opinion was cooler than aura manipulation particularly as it was the easiest to use. While he could try using the mountains around them as a test, he needed to try out his range. But the question was what.
Tuning out the batter between Rimuru and the others, Clark eyes reached up the sky, with a little effort the atmospheric barrier was sieved away, and the stars burst forth. Beautiful' he thought. There were no words that could be used to describe it, smiling froze as he spotted the rocks that hung around.
"Maybe… I could use this." Eyes and hands still wreathed in flames; he stretched a hand upwards.
"Hmm, Clark what are you doing?" Rimuru asked noticing Clark odd behavior, looking upwards Rimuru took in the cloudless sky confused on what the kryptonian was doing. As he was about to repeat his question, the slime suddenly yelped as an invisible thump of energy erupted from Clark and the kryptonian finally spoke in a low tone.
"Come"
Trepidation arose as Rimuru had a hunch something was about to come crashing down from the sky, the sudden thrumming hum, and the blue sea firmament becoming flaming red was the confirmation he needed, that yep. Clark really was going to destroy his forest.
.
Telekinesis was like using a mouse to operate a monitor,' Clark thought as he began to reach to out to the meteorites. With his own method, using telekinesis was first finding what he needs, hold and drag however he wants, and that was what he did.
The visuals for the meteorites were surprisingly easy, his eyesight took him farther crossing the alien moon to the star field space. His awareness was like the cursor scoring the expanse for his targets, one by one, he latched on the bolides. One meteor became two, tens, hundreds, and thousands, until it he didn't bother to count anymore. He expected to feel tired or any sign of exhaustion but there was none, he would have go on, but he felt what had gathered was enough.
Stretching a hand he visualized, the marked stones, visualizing a command.
"Come."
All without exception left their positions shooting away at incredible speeds as he pulled them set on a path to the planet.
It was only when the skies began to look like something out of an Armageddon, did Clark knew he took things too far.
"Light God! Cease your incursion at once!" Clark turned to see an odachi pointed at him, Shion scowl was scathing, but the fear he tasted was so palpable that he might be staring at a murky bundle of it.
Deep with his soul, a yellow anthem began to form.
"Shion?" Clark asked in confusion, looking around, Souka threatened to bowl over but stood up straight only by pure will power, Ranga stood protectively over his lord growling clearly at him.
"I will not ask again, stop this now or test my blade."
"Shion stop!" Rimuru slinked out of her shadow forcing her hand down, "You are only making this worse!"
The humming changed into a discordant blare, and earthquake shook the entire range, and high above they all showed themselves filling out the entire sky.
Meteorites…
Thousands of them, even the smallest had the size of a house, Rimuru really wished he could perspire at this moment. If they all drop at the same time. The mental image of a barren radiated Great Jura forest fleeted through Rimuru's brain. No, he wouldn't let that happen.
"Clark stop it! If all of them drop at the same time you're going to wipe the entire forest off the map! Everyone would die!"
Clark shook mortified, turning to the sky, and with a hand gesture all space stone stayed stationary thousands of meters in the air. Letting out a sigh of relief, he heard one sigh with his as Clark saw the Rimuru in her slime form on the ground.
"Crises averted~" Rimuru chimed, before turning back to his humanoid form once more. Looking back up, he saw that even the radiated fumes were frozen still, given the burning stones the mental image of a hanging guillotine. Only this one smash rather than cuts.
"I'm sorry." Clark said as the others slowly regained their bearings.
"Sorry?! Did you just say you're sorry! Do you really think it's that easy to say sorry and everything is forgiven! You almost killed us all, destroyed our home! And all you have to say is sorry?! Some Light God you are." Shion said face set in anger, her hands clenched white around the grip her odachi.
Clark on the receive end, closed his eyes while setting down clenching his fist looking contrite.
Rimuru seeing the remorse on Clark quickly calmed Shion down, even Ranga who looked one step from pouncing on him in ferocious anger was grudgingly pacified. But still the Demon Seed had to admit as he looked up, however terrifying as it was that it was still impressive to see.
But still it was scary to see how close he was to losing his life all on an unintended urge to experiment. With a wry smile, he thought, it's like I'm with an isekai overpowered character.' But still he idly wondered what the border kingdoms would be doing now that they had seen such an attack. Hopefully it would be taken as a deterrent rather than provocation.
Ah~ what a mess.' Rimuru thought while dragging his hands across his face, before addressing Clark.
"Clark not like I'm saying what you did is right? But please before you throw stunts like this again, just give us the head lights first, so that we can tell you what you're about to do is right or is it going to spark disaster."
Clark recoiled at the unintended barb, Disaster.' Shaking his head to rid it off the coming blush, he turned to the slime and nodded.
"Still how are we going to get rid of all this." Rimuru sighed as he gazed at the hanging mountains above them.
"My sincere apologies, Master, but regrettably even if I summon my fellow tempest comrades, we won't be able to do much against this much mass." Ranga despondently said.
"Light God, if you are capable of bringing them in then you could send them back right." Shion said curtly to Clark who nodded, turning to her lord she said clearly preening, "Well that's problem solved."
As Clark was about to throw the meteors back to space Rimuru suddenly stopped him, 'Wait Clark, let me ask this do you still have any other attacks in your repertoire."
Clark nodded, "They aren't much, but I still have some purely attack abilities, my heat vision and arctic breath included."
"Yeah, I even forgot about those from all this excitement, but still, this gives us an opportunity." At Clark inquisitive look, Rimuru explained, "From the way you look I can say that holding up all those rocks aren't as straining as I assumed, so why don't you use that as training targets. It'll be doing two things at once, clearing the rocks and testing yourself more."
Nodding Clark looked at the rocks for a moment before deciding something, "I'm going to try something but first I want to ask, do you all have resistance to decrease and increase in temperatures."
All of them nodded, except Souka, "My resistance to lower temperatures is much lower than my resistance to higher ones."
Rimuru looked interested as he said, "So you're going to use it?" Finally! Finally! After all this time he was going to see it.
"Yeah, but first," He gestured as the dragonewt who flinched a bit before relaxing at the sight of a translucent barrier that hovered some inches away from her body but still provided air, "Just for precautionary safety." At her nod, he turned to Shion and Ranga, "What of you do you need it?"
"No thank you, Light God."
"It is not needed."
They both tersely replied, Rimuru also shook his head, "Don't worry I'm more resistant that I look."
Seeing that Clark nodded looking back up, he took a deep breath through his nose sucking the air in like a vacuum cleaner. His chest puffed up, fists vised folding slightly while his elbows pushed back, his lips parted in a small hole and then he exhaled.
Considerably the air chilled drastically, Shion and Ranga yelped in surprise, while Souka seeing the earth being turned into frozen tundra luckily thanked her stars. It wouldn't have killed her but it would have been very unpleasant.
Rimuru watched with stars in his eyes as what could be described as a turret of icy winds spurted out of Clark's lips.
'This is The Artic Breath.' The slime thought in wonder.
The tips of Clark lips felt comfortably cold, as he watched the blustery frost rush out from his mouth shooting up higher till it crashed against the rocks and began to spread, the red heat of the rocks gained from the reentry friction was snuffed out in creaking sounds, and by the time Clark had stopped, all the rocks had been covered in a film of ice.
"Thank goodness he didn't do this on land, we all would have been frozen to our very bones." Just by freezing all those rocks at the same time with one breath, Clark had just proven he could do the same to the entire forest!
While it was morbidly funny to watch the way his subordinates' jaws slacked open, Rimuru relate to them as well. Hell, he suspected it wasn't at full power! Shaking his eyes in wonder, he turned when he heard Clark informing them, he was about to try his other one.
"Another one? You still have something other than this?" Shion said unable to contain the trepidation arising within her. This man, this being, was too dangerous to be around Rimuru-sama, unconsciously she edged around her lord, who promptly set her aside.
"But Rimuru-sama?" She whined. Couldn't he see she was trying to protect him.
Looking straight at her, Rimuru said, "For more than once let me ask you again, if he really wanted to try something how do you think you can stop him?"
Words hooked in her throats, before gulping an air as she said, "Then I will give my life to stop him."
Shaking his head, Rimuru said, "I don't want your life Shion, it shouldn't be for me," At her budding protest, he raised a hand, "Please Shion."
The berserker clenched her fist, before she was nudged at the side by Ranga who shook his head. Sighing she relaxed back conceding.
Seeing that everything had been settled Clark initiated his optical discharge. Activating his heat vision was surprising simple when compared to most coming-of-age Superman's iterations.
Maybe it was because it required emotions as its fuel, Clark presumed that was why it felt so intimate to him, all he just had to do, is to sink into his growing grievances. It was all too easy in letting go.
True, he was brought into this world probably overpowered, but still he knew it wouldn't be easy. Shion, Ranga, Rimuru, Souka… they had all proven it, maybe it was as a result of his enhanced perception, but he could feel it, see it, possibly taste it. The palpable fear of what he presented, the anger born from apprehension of his actions, the dread permeated the air when he narrows his eyes, the anxiety that followed as they discussed about him like an object of terror... All of it, all of them WERE JUST TOO FRUSTRATING.
He wasn't perfect. While he might have had introductory aspects of the world lectured to him yesterday, he still didn't know his place in this world, he knew he was many things but an idiot he was not. Sighing Clark wondered whether the monsters back in town were even sincere when they congratulated him. Even Souka who looked nice, and all was basically spying on him for God's sake!
Maybe it was foolish for him to think like this, but still a question lingered in his heart as he was welcomed. What if they were motivated by fear?
Objectively he was lucky to have been summoned at this place because if it was in a more aggressive environment. He would have been on a warpath, and then Clark wouldn't have recognized himself anymore.
Quietly he focused on his anger at the world, at Shion, at Ranga, at Souka, at Rigurd, at Benimaru, at everyone who was at that town, at Rimuru who gave him impression that maybe there was something he could feel for this place, at the world that he was brought into… at himself for feeling like this again and breaking his promise to Laurie.
The ambient temperature surpassed boiling level, his eyes became a crimson borne of flames, and then with a grunt he released.
Twin optical beams of intense energy shot out from his eyes travelling at the speed of light increasing in breadths the instant it was released, with a resounding boom the red lasers crashed against frozen rocks vaporizing the meteors into dust, the sudden collision of different temperatures brought about the sudden introduction of an ambient humidity that chilled the valley.
Clark moved his head sideways moving from rock to rock, from where eyes passed explosion and dust followed, to Clark it was like burning a piece of paper. But he couldn't get them all from where he was. Eyes turning back to its normal cerulean he said curtly to the others.
"I'm going up, need better view." Clark crouched slightly before shooting up with an earth chipping force, a moment later he was back in the sky. There was no moment to enjoy the vista it provided, as he looked around for the rocks surrounded the air space. Eyes narrowed he scoured meticulously for avian seeking to get away from what he was about to do but as he found none, he presumed his stunt with the meteor calling must have scared them from flying for a while.
With that out of the way, he beckoned the fire to his eyes once more anger as his fuel and then released it this time with more force. Twin scorching red beams created a death line, melting and obliterating all the meteors that it passed, not a moment later an entire section had been cleared, to round it up Clark began to spin turning into a red human tornado, his crimson beams doing away with all that it touched, none of the rocks could offer resistance.
When he stopped, Clark saw that even though all the meteors were gone the pieces and the fragment still remained, so using his telekinesis once more he gathered all of them in one place in the form of a sphere that had the proportions of a small house, raising his hands shrouded in yellow flames, Clark began to squeeze, shrinking and compacting into a smaller size and at the end what remained was a ball that was smaller than an egg, its smooth surface and vermillion black shape the only suggestion that it had a peculiar quality. He played with it indolently before placing it one of his jacket pockets.
Later on, he might ask someone about it.
But first he released a sigh as he took in the skies, all meteors gone, obliterated, leaving behind clear blue skies that belied that a thing such as an Armageddon of stones had even happened, even the tainted smell, those space rocks carried was gone as well.
But still why was there no satisfaction? Releasing those beams surprisingly helped him, because he actually felt like he had released all the itching problems he had, but still something felt missing. With a sigh he sank down slowly leaving the solitude the heavens provided back to the land below.
"I got to admit that really was cool," Rimuru said in amazement, but then halted as he saw the brooding look on the kryptonian, "Clark, anything the problem?"
Rimuru's inquiry sparked Clark out of his musing as he turned to her while feigning a smile, "No-No, it's nothing, while should there be. What were you saying again?" As he waited for a reply, while removing the barrier he placed on Souka much to her thanks.
Clark's pretense wasn't lost on the slime who wondered what had happened, shifting slightly he caught his subordinates now sending cautious looks to the kryptonian, before he hummed in realization, So that's it huh… damn I never expected that this might happen.' The reaction to a feat such as this would be fear, it's a textbook answer. And no matter how Clark apologizes there will always be a certain fear over his actions. It was an action that cannot be distinguished between monsters and humans.
Rimuru knew that all too well because he comprised of both. It wasn't something that could be done in just one day, but still Rimuru hoped that with time something like an amiable relationship would be cultivated. But that relied on the fact if Clark was patient enough to deal with the hazing or prematurely snaps.
He had actually pondered about sending Clark away to the neighboring human kingdoms, but he stopped for two reasons.
One before anything else the slime has to at least plant in the kryptonian mind that Jura Tempest Federation was a peaceful place, who knows what insidious propaganda that some human purist would sow in the Light God's head and sway him against Rimuru's people. I don't want to fight against a meteorite calling kryptonian, thank you very much.'
Secondly if possible, the slime wanted to make him an ally, so that in case any of those Demon Lords come knocking Clark here would thrash their asses while he stays at the side cheering with a popcorn and an impish beam.
'Maybe he would help me trounce that Leon Cromwell guy too.'
Suddenly pausing the slime mused, speaking of popcorn, I wonder if it's even here in this world.' And if it isn't then Shuna and Gobui'chi has one more project to work on.
To Clark, the Demon Seed slime said, "I was talking about your Heat Vision, how does it even feel using it?"
Tucking both hands into his pockets, as one of his hands brushed against the cool space rock. Clark mulled for a bit and answered, "Cathartic… yeah that's it, it like I'm free from my emotions."
What emotions I wonder.' Rimuru drolly thought, a quick glance to the others had the grace to look uneasy, before sighing, "So Clark are you done for the day?"
Clark shaking his head caused the others to blanch.
"Why do you still want to test anymore, haven't you done enough for one day?" Shion asked.
"I agree with Shion, Light God, the safety of Rimuru-sama had been jeopardized, and has had a close one, too far for comfort." Ranga added.
Souka opened her mouth before shutting it, while she also wanted to add her own, she felt both Ranga-sama and Shion-sama had said enough. Her legs were still jittery even though she had hit it twice to stimulate blood flow, there was just too much excitement for one day. At least tomorrow, let it be tomorrow, for now she needs to calm her tiding heart. But when she looked at the Light God, she had an observation. Is it just me or does his eyes seem… duller?'
Clark closed his eyes mentally counting to five before opening them, "Well you both can leave, I'm not stopping you, am I?" While he still had not finish trying out the last three abilities of his kryptonian Ultimate Skill, he wanted to check out his Old God one.
OLGRUN THE GOD OF MADNESS
Villa had specifically told him to use this Skill with utmost cautiousness, so he wanted to see what it even was.
And why should he listen to the ones who were clearly antagonistic even though he extended the olive branch. Clark may not be a bad person, but he was definitely not a saint.
"Look if you guys don't want to stay fine, I'm not holding you, in fact this next Skill I want to try is dangerous so take your leader and go back to the town. Don't worry this time, I'll be careful." Before the others to say a word, he was already up in the air moving deeper into the mountain ranges.
…
While in the air Clark was contacted by his HUD A.I.
{Clark.} Villa slowly said, {Are you alright?}
"Yeah, I'm fine?" Clark tersely replied before slowing down in the air, "Sorry about my tone Villa, but yeah I'm fine."
{You obviously are not Clark; in case you don't know you're scowling right now.} Instantly Clark moved his hands to trace the furrows in his expression, he definitely was not alright.
Sighing Villa continued, {Even with all my intelligence, I won't say I can empathize with what you are going through. But please remember, when you want to talk, I am always here.}
It soothed Clark's heart to hear that shaking off his form he threw out a witty remark. "Yeah, that's right where else will you be if not for inside my head."
Villa gave a melodious laugh as she rolled her eyes, {Ha-ha very funny,} She commented drolly, before continuing with a serious tone, {But do you really want to continue this, Clark? Rest for the day, this particular Ultimate Skill shouldn't be performed with such state of mind.}
Clark already spotting a clearing floated down to land on it, "Nope I can't, I have already decided to not try the last two in my kryptonian Ultimate Skill, my lantern Ultimate Skill is still as fuzzy as hell to activate and now my new god Ultimate Skill, I should at least give it a try before calling it a day."
{Alright but please be careful, only the smallest quantity.}
"Yeah, I know that, but still, I have you with me, right?" He grinned. Hearing Villa playful scoff made him laugh. Yeah, even though he might be in a different world, at least he still has her. As he positioned himself, he halfheartedly contemplated leaving the Jura Tempest Federation to any of the nearby human kingdoms. Oh, the people back at town might be good and all, but still, as seen from Shion, Souei and Ranga, they might not be of one mind.
From what Villa enlightened him on, Clark knew he stood among the top of the food chain in this world, so at the very least his safety was guaranteed. Briefly he began to fantasize about going on great adventures fighting dragons and demons, saving kingdoms, helping the unfortunate and the helpless, receiving titles and straight up refusing them while being what he always dreamt to be. And then when he gains enough power, force his way straight back to his world. His parents and Laurie would get well with Villa he was sure about that.
Shaking his head, he took a deep breath about to begin. "Ultimate Skill, OlGRUN THE GO-…!" Clark was cut off by the sound of landing within his vicinity, dust rose off from the ground obscuring his view but still that meant nothing to Clark, sighing he asked, "So what are you do here, Rimuru?"
The humanoid slime sauntered beaming, "Yo, Clark what's the big idea leaving me behind again? Or are you the kind of person who gets a kick out of it."
Refusing to lift his lips up, Clark didn't reply as he noted his subordinates weren't with him, "So where are the others?" He asked seeing that there was no clingy kijin or wolf.
"I sent them back town, Ranga is well," Rimuru look at his shadow, "Back where he is supposed to be."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Clark said in exasperation, "You do know that you've just amped the animosity those two have on me, right?"
"Eh I'm sure an able kryptonian can bulldoze through it," Rimuru shrugged before arriving at Clark's proximity, "So you still want to try out another one and you said it's dangerous huh? Is it another effect of your Ultimate Skill?"
"Yeah, something like that. Seriously Rimuru, I don't know the outcome of using this and I don't want to put you in danger, if anything happens to you, your people will have my hide."
Sweatdropping Rimuru replied, "Oh come on, it wouldn't come to that." At Clark's dry look, Rimuru shook before exhaling conceding, "Yeah maybe you're right, but still it's no problem, after all I got Superman to rescue me, eh?"
Clark laughed while shaking his head wryly, "Well don't say I didn't warn you." Moving some distance away, he looked at the sky-blue girl with golden eyes. I swear this girl is just like Laurie, always the curious one.' Giving out a weak chuckle, he closed his eyes and said mentally once more.
'Ultimate Skill… OLGRUN, THE GOD OF MADNESS…"
When he opened his eyes, he found himself at a new location.
Immediately wincing Clark clenched his teeth at the stifling heat. Looking up he saw nothing but a dark vacuum that held nothingness, but before him was a sea of liquid fire. Another wave of heat blasted against him, as Clark lifted his hand to defend himself only to discover he was in his birthday suit.
"What the hell?" Luckily it was his kryptonian body, Clark deduced as he saw the pecs and six abs and the taunt muscle that sculpted his chassis. He wondered if it was positive to even feel jealous that it was his body. But damn was he fine!
Another hot air blasted against him, with such a force he wanted to disengage from using the Ultimate Skill, but he held on. Unsurprisingly there was no sweat from his body, but Clark had already presumed that this was all spiritual stuff, so he decided to observe the surroundings. If there was anything to observe.
The flames most notably were orange in color, strange for flames but still wasn't that surprising given the eeriness of the situation. Honestly, he was surprised he wasn't jumping around in fear, but well maybe it would after he leaves. Looking at the sea, he tried to pierce through to see what laid beneath as he spotted some strange shadows swimming languidly, but he couldn't.
"What the hell?" He muttered slowly. The only thing his vision couldn't see was through lead –however convenient as it sounded- But unless this was molten lead, -which he was a hundred percent wasn't- then why couldn't he see through it. Unless it was…
"Magic… Divine Magic." He said with lips curled down, well that would explain it. Villa said that unlike the comic book Superman he didn't have most of his weakness and he was no weaker to magic –thank God for that- but still any magic on a higher dimension than his would be difficult to discern, and as such would display norm vulnerabilities on his person.
Just great.'
He wasn't in a hurry anyway. Looking forward he tried to spot to see what laid at the edges of this flaming ocean, but his vision dragging out for minutes on end he still couldn't find the boundaries.
Arriving at the near the edges, mindful not to let flames touch him, he commented unsatisfied, "Is this damn sea actually infinite in size?"
"Is that how you comprehend the Omega Effect, scion of Rao? How disappointing." From beside Clark a voice suddenly boomed.
With a yelp Clark flinched, eyes on fire as he scouted to the side in a blur as he looked at his side to see the largest man he had ever seen in his life. The man if you call him that was nine feet tall dressed in a time-tested silver armor and green cape hooked unto it, on his head was a twin horned helmet that partitioned in a T shape showing cold dark eyes and on his hand was a demonic looking staff.
For the first time since Clark arrived in this world, he felt fear, an unsettling chill that rattled his bones, this being beside him he knew could snap him like a twig and he wouldn't be able to put up any resistance. Gulping Clark tried not to appear troubled by this being before him, Clark asked calmly, "And… who, are you?"
The being appeared amused as he nodded, " Yes fear veneered with an adaptable wariness, there is still hope for you yet. But for you to ask who I am. It seems like the new order has forgotten about the one who laid waste to the cosmos, one of the strongest and terrible of the Old Gods, the Lord of all that is Evil." Looking directly at Clark he said, " Child you ask who I am. Look at this sea. The overpowering might of the Omega Force, a gift to my progenies Uxas and Izaya, " He spat as he called their names, " I am the true ruler of Apokolips, Yuga Khan."
A bone freezing chill passed through Clark's spine, and his back was drench in cold sweat. If he was afraid before, now he was terrified. Yuga Khan, as in the father of Darkseid and Highfather?
What is he doing here?!' Clark screeched in his mind. This one is like the granddaddy of evil. Shivering he was just about to disengage his Skill before pausing, this was his Skill the fact that someone like Yuga Khan was even talking to him is strange in the first place, if going by what Clark read, he should have been molecules by now.
So that means he can't do anything to me then…' While that provided a modicum of assurance, he still moves back some more, preparing to turn off the Skill at any sign of confrontation. He was strong but not enough to deal with this guy.
"So you're him. The Yuga Khan, huh…" The giant gave no answer, but Clark needed none, looking at the sea with new eyes, he said in wonder, "So this is the Omega Effect…" With trepidation he now realized why Villa said he should be careful when utilizing the Skill. "But my Ultimate Skill said Olgrun, why am I receiving the Omega Effect?" He asked the giant.
The Lord of all Evil said as he returned his gaze to the sea, " It is an essence of the God of Madness, it was from the dredges of his might that the Omega Effect was created. So Scion of Rao, you have come, as was the New Gods before you to baptize in its glory."
Shaking his head Clark replied, "Uh, no-no-no. Now that I know what it is, I am too weary of it. Baptize? No sir, I'm not ready to become the next Darkseid. Just a sip, I am here for a small quantity of the Omega Effect."
"Ho, what a conundrum. I sense great fear in you when talking about the Omega Effect, however still, you want to sample with this raging force. I don't know if to call you brave or foolhardy." Yuga Khan said with a grating laugh that was just plain evil.
Clenched fist Clark turned while looking straight in the eyes of one of the scariest beings in existence, "No this is just me being prudent. I know that the Omega Effect can be used for destruction, but I also know the Omega Effect can also be used to create many things, and cause miracles to happen. While I fear this energy, I want to face what I am dealing with head on rather than look for it when I truly need it without knowing what I am dealing with."
"It is the meta-knowledge that gives you such confidence, no? " Before Clark could ask how he knew about his comic knowledge, he shook his head and moved back giving him breadth, " I will not stop you, not can I, not when I am less than an echo confined until you master the Omega Effect. So go and experience the wonders of this turbulent energy, see if you can appreciate its nature. "
Occasionally throwing back looks at the Old God who had become a still statue once again Clark stop at the edge of the sea, the fluid flames washed nearer to his legs as he looked at its entirety. The shadows that he saw before congregated some miles away dancing around themselves in a bizarre way. Clark knew that if he leaves this place without doing this it would be impossible for him to return, why he did not know, but he just knew it.
Breathing in the stifling air, Clark beckoned the flames to come into him, and slowly after an unknown spell, a cord of flame arose from the flaming sea flowing before him, and gathered into a ball of fire, satisfied he called the fire into him.
"The Omega Effect is one of the most difficult energy to master, scion of Rao." Yuga Khan suddenly said prompting Clark to turn to look at him as the fire began to enter his chest. Clearly amused the Old God raised a finger and pointed it at him, " It isn't because of the energy it possessed nor was it the echoes that torments. No, it is the Madness of Olgrun, which sears into your soul, his unyielding will that clashes for control as you lose all control of your actions becoming the incarnation of his hate."
Suddenly Clark clenched his chest in agony, suddenly it was becoming difficult to breath, his vision turned hazy, and his body felt unnaturally hot. What is happening?
"Can you feel it scion of Rao? His will, his anger, his hate!" Yuga Khan raised his hands in reverence.
Oh Clark could feel it alright. It was there in his head after all, banging and turning his brain to mush. He didn't even have the strength to scream in pain. But unlike what the sicko god was saying, it wasn't the madness that affecting him. It was the power.
Yuga Khan calmed as he returned back to his position in disappointment, " Luckily for you scion of Rao, your lack of greed was what saved you," But then he smiled, "But while you may have saved yourself from domination. The power you have taken what would be of it I wonder…"
As darkness consumed Clark's vision signifying his return back to the material world, he groaned out in defiance, "F-Fuck you, you hear me, fuck you…" He groaned in bone infusing pain.
But all that answered was raucous laughter.
-TRoaKH-
On the outside world, Clark began to perspire streams of sweat as he went down on his knees palms pressing the sides of his face. Rimuru concerned went to meet him but suddenly halted as he found out he couldn't move.
'Great Sage what is going on why am I not suddenly moving? Is it another sub-effect.' Rimuru asked in panic.
[No Master] The Unique Skill replied, pausing for some seconds before continuing, [… It's fear.]
Huh…' Rimuru was about to ask for more clarification when he looked down to see his hands unexpectedly shivering. He tried to focus on it, willing it to stop and move, when he found his other hand in the same state. Slowly looking down he realized why he wasn't able to move, his legs was obviously shaking but for whatever reason refused to move an inch from that spot.
Ah… so this is fear.' He thought suddenly losing the ability to speak. No it wasn't that, it was his mouth that refused to move. He tried willing his body back to its monster state but that was impossible as well. Looking back front he realized what frightened him so. From Clark's body a strange orange aura began to emanate shrouding the kryptonian body. It felt terrible, frightful, vengeful… it felt like, it was going to devour everything that comprised of him, body and soul. Soundlessly he screamed at Clark to stop it but he felt like he was screaming in a box. A small dark box, it was only him alone. Rimuru could vaguely hear Great Sage telling him to run away, but his body refused to do so.
With an ear shattering blast the energy shroud tore through the earth without resistance and then the kryptonian finally looked at him. But Rimuru only saw red eyes filled with hate. The kryptonian lifted a hand of yellow flames and Rimuru suddenly found himself inside a barrier, like a tiding flood all emotions and biological functions returned to him.
"I am so sorry." Clark's voice said quietly in-between pain and muffles of rage. But before Rimuru could say anything, the barrier lifted off the ground and shot away.
…..
Clark was not unfamiliar to pain. Bruises from fights, needles and stiches from hospitals, spanks from his parents when he's being an ass... He had experienced them at all varying intensities, so one could say that while he wasn't intimate with it, he was not a stranger to pain.
But this… this one took the cake.
"Gah!" Screaming like an idiot, Clark tried to get his bearing. But he felt like he was about to explode, whatever was inside his body could hardly be contained. Is this power of just a globule of the Omega Force?' He thought to himself incredibly.
Cutting that line of that quickly Clark frantically wondered what he could do, because if whatever was in him explodes out, something tell him the results won't be funny.
{Up Clark, go up!} Villa exclaimed urgently.
Giving himself a mental bonk, Clark did the obvious thing and took off in the air, "How, how high is up Villa?!"
{Just keep going!}
Passing over a thousands of feet, Clark slowed down in the air, his face set in agony. He couldn't contain it any longer.
"AHHHHHHH!"
With an inhuman bellow, Clark's body became an orange pillar that pierced the firmaments and stamped the earth below, it's luminesce a beacon that bannered the entirety of the Great Jura Forest. While the heavens were safe, the earth not so much. Not second passed the pillar expanded atomizing mountains within vicinity. More crags disappeared every second, turning the vista of Canat mountain ranges into a dust ridden chasm.
{Clark you have to listen to me. Listen to my voice!}
In pain Clark was delirious, but Villa still pressed on.
{I know that you are suffering right now… I should have stopped you from doing this, but if you don't listen to me right now, you are going to destroy everything!}
"Vi-Villa…" Clark slowly groaned as he lifted his head up reply on through sheer force.
{Yes Clark it's me.} Villa replied in a relief tone, {That energy within you, I need you to expel it away from your body.}
"We-well no shit Sherlock, in case you didn't notice I'm trying to do so. But as you can see, a little help can be nice… Dammit all!" Clark snapped back wincing, while the pillar kept getting bigger, to make things worse he couldn't move an inch for the fear of the energy flowing out wildly.
{Heat Vision, use your Heat Vision Clark. It's the only war to the energy out!}
"Ah you're right!" Clark said, while cursing himself for not considering that, he looked out to space and threw all the energy within him into his eyes. It was orange beams rather than red that responded coming out with enough force to push him back while in the air. Immediately he began to feel the effects, if Clark had to describe, it was as if he was emptying all the bad air in his stomach. But it wasn't enough there was no flitter for the energy to pass through except from his eyes.
While the speed decreased noticeably, the pilaster still crept on, destroying everything it covered with its obliterating light.
Clark slowly awaited the destruction, knowing that his bullheadedness was the cause of it all.
Who was I kidding,' Clark thought to himself despondently, I can't be a hero, not in my world, certainly not in theirs.'
But suddenly Clark felt it, in his awareness something was developing. In his mind's eye, he could see it, an explosion of yellow energy mixing wildly and begun taking shape. It first constructed brittle bones, then flesh, and then clothed in carapace all of yellow energy. The first thing that came into Clark mind was parasite bug mixed with dragon properties.
But Clark knew what it was, or specifically what it stood for. That means there was enough Fear to kick start it.' He morosely thought.
{Clark!} Villa said. While her voice was hope filled Clark could feel her empathic pain.
"I know…" He nodded, words left unsaid. His right fist balled held by his left hand. Clark closed his eyes and called upon one of the primordial personifications in the DC universe, a being of the Emotional Spectrum. It was time to employ his last Ultimate Skill.
"In blackest day, in brightest night,
Beware your fears made into light.
Let those who try to burn what's right,
Burn like my power… Parallax might!"
The yellow light that exploded overshadowed the destructive pillar even that of the sun covering the forest and the border kingdom with its glow. But while it might appear gentle it was anything but such.
The observatory mages of almost every kingdom whose eyes watched over the forest, their optical orifices exploded in gores of blood. The few lucky and much stronger ones passed out, all muttering about the Avatar of Fear, sparking about conferences over the new occurrence in the monster forest speculating the rise of a Demon Lord.
Meanwhile the people of Jura Tempest Federation stood frozen all without exception forgetting to breath. For all they saw was the phantasm image of a humungous bug like dragon hanging over them, but their souls warned them not do anything in getting its attention.
As for Clark his attire was gone, and what replaced it was a uniform he always saw in comics. It was a spandex of unknown material with yellow line accents that flowed around his body leaving black sides at the flanks of his torso, arms and legs area. On both arms were dull yellow bracers same color as the greaves on his legs. Clark shoulders were adorned with simple cauldrons that was attached to a yellow cape that billowed behind him. And on his chest was the simple of the lantern conjoined with an S.
But what made Clark to grimace was the yellow ring on his right finger, it was plain sickening to see. And it was the personification of the fear that Clark had struck in the hearts of the people of this world.
To that among all of the emotions in the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum I had to manifest first, it had to be Fear... Dammit all.'
{Clark,} Villa reminded, {Now's is your chance. The energy is finally contained.}
Clark mutedly nodded. Villa's right, the carroty pillar of doom had finally halted, and the energy that had overwhelmed his psyche had been calmed, even the annoying surge of anger had diminished down. Concentrating Clark began to pull it back, for as fast it spread, it receded twice as fast. And then all that remained was a God of Light enshrouded in the phantom image of Fear.
"It's time to end this…" Clark declared, as he looked upward raising his ring, his eyes glowing yellow. The avatar Parallax mimicked the actions of the kryptonian raising his head also its eyes gleaming red. Energy pooled into Clark's ring transferring into the ruby eyes of the bug dragon. When every single drop had been transferred Clark felt the immediate effect, all the anger had left him replaced by guilt.
A single tear slither down his cheeks while he stared mutedly at the sky. He opened his mouth and breathed out one word.
"Fire."
Parallax eyes gleamed dangerously, and what followed was an earthshaking stringent boom! With a sphere-like shockwave flattening the mountaintops below, the radiance of beams darkened the sky, and for some seconds turned day into night. The power of the blast streaked off the solar system moving millions of miles away before smashing against an uninhabited planet tearing away its surface deep into its core, and what resulted was an explosion that enveloped the entire alien globe with its natural moon obliterating it into chunks of space rocks.
Meanwhile back with Clark, he sighed as he turned down to see the chasm below him, sighing again, he wondered how he was going to explain it to the others. I know that Rimuru gave me this area to play with but… this is too much.' Rimuru thought, before he paused looking down at the ring.
He knew what the power of the yellow rings and rings in general held. As one of the most powerful objects in the DC universe the rings weren't known for their destructive potential, but rather their capacity bring about to reality the intentions of the wielder. Each of the rings are powered by various wielders emotions, but Fear as an exception banks of the emotions of others to bring out its full potential and unlike Sinestro, Clark will always remain at full capacity and even more.
But for now the ambient Fear that Parallax had drank up is enough for what he wanted.
Pointing down his ring, Clark closed his eyes, imagining the vista that was supposed to be below him instead of the deep chasm. The greenery of trees and grass, the cutting scent of glass, the blue sky that painted such a lovely quaint scene. But how was he supposed to do it? It's not he could use it to turn back time…
Unless, he actually could… Hal Jordan, Sinestro, John Stewart. They all could do it, sometimes without the aid of Creatures of Emotions, all because they had had their emotions strong enough to do so. But Clark had a greater chance of doing the same thing with a greater chance for success, especially since he had the help of a bug dragon…
Opening his eyes wide, he stretched forth his hands as the phantom image of Parallax shrank in size ebbing into his body, what took its place was an intricate yellow clock construct, the second arrow moved without stopping in its clockwise movement, when Clark spoke out softly as his words echoed throughout.
"Time… Stop …" Abruptly the second arrow halted, and the clock pulsed bringing out a yellow dome that enveloped the entire Canat mountain ranges. The air inside the dome became stale and dull the color of reality was stripped away. One of the primordial constant of the universe had been conquered. His work not complete Clark then continued his fear churning in him providing enough strength, "Time… Turn Back for an entire ten hours ."
The second arrow began to start moving anti-clockwise at a rapid pace while emitting occasional pulses of light. Time began to shift back in the valley as slowly dust began to recede back to the earth, rocks stacking on themselves melding together forming the mountains like it hadn't been destroyed in the first place. Pastures and trees sprouted back as it continued until the entire imagery was restored back. Finally Clark was done with his work dispersing the dome restoring the colors and the scenery like nothing had ever happened.
Floating down Clark looked down on his ring and willed it away in a flash of bright yellow light, restoring his former clothes back. He put a hand into his pocket brushing against the space stone from before while observing the scenery. He had done it, restored everything back, but still he wondered about the comeuppance he would receive from the others when they arrive. He was under no illusion that they hadn't contributed in adding the Fear to build up Parallax, so whatever they say about him would be rightfully deserved.
Shaking his head, the Light God turned back to looked at the vista once more. Absently he noted that while the greenery had bloomed once more, they all seemed dead…
Pinching the edges of his eyes Clark muttered, "Why the hell am I even thinking like that?" But that line of thought refused to leave him. It was like he could no more hear their Song, looking at all the green before him. He knew that while Time had brought back their forms, it did nothing for their souls.
Groaning he wondered if using that Ultimate Skill did something to his brain.
Crouching Clark placed a palm against the earth. He couldn't believe what he about to try, it was totally ridiculous. But who knows maybe it wasn't his delirium that was playing mind-tricks on him.
"Uh… hey grasses," Clark said by inwardly thanking God that there was no one left to see him, "Are you all trying to tell me something." He waited for some seconds feeling the mountain winds blowing pass him. Giving himself a deriding laugh, he shook his head about to remove his palm from the ground when he felt something.
A warm gentle pulsation pushed against his hand so imperceptibly he wasn't sure that it was really it. Clark with wide eyes asked again, "Can you please do that again?"
The pulse immediately returned back, proving to Clark that he wasn't going crazy. With a light laugh Clark said, "So… why are you calling me?"
The pulse throbbed against his hands, but it felt like he could understand what they were saying. Grimacing Clark pursed his lips as he got the whole situation. All plant possess a unique consciousness no matter how small, and as for the entire fauna of Canat mountain ranges, they were all a hive mind, and Clark destruction had left them in a state near death, even now they are on their dying embers with no way to oppose what was coming unless Clark decides help them.
Clark pulled a face as he said confused, "Bu-But I don't know how, all of my abilities… my Ultimate Skills they are all geared for destruction." His eyes were heavy when they mentally added, Even his Omega Effect.
But then the reply the hive mind rang against his mind loud and clear. It was like the millions of voices screaming all together, " You can do it, you can save us all if you wish, because we can feel it, our Origin your supremacy over all that comes out from Gaia, my Lord you can save us all… because you are… the Lord of the Green! " Clark knew that they had sputtered out, because as he looked up he saw that all plants without exception turned yellow signifying their death.
Clark stood up as he said, "So you got that Villa?"
{Yes Clark…}
"So all the things that they said just now, were they correct?" He asked in clarification.
{Yes Clark…}
Bringing his palm against his face Clark breathed harshly, as he muffled through his hands, "So I'm receiving another one already… a new Ultimate Skill..." Pursing his lips he continued, "Villa what do you think must have caused this… no forget it, I definitely don't want to deal with this right now. But is it ready?"
{It is Clark, all that remains is your signal to begin quantum chicanery of the World's Voice.}
Removing his hands down, revealing narrowed eyes he nodded, "Alright Villa do your stuff." Suddenly Clark heard a self-detached emotionless voice speaking loudly into his head.
[Ultimate Skill acquisition… #%$$]
"So that's the Voice of the World, eh?" Clark said while noting how it sounded, its voice resembled those independent audio readers in phones back in his world. Emotionless and grating to the ears. "Eh that just means Villa is better…" He said to himself.
{Why thank you Clark…} Villa suddenly interrupted sweetly.
Flushing furiously Clark cleared his throat before his A.I could say anything that might just make him to burst out his Heat Vision, "So Villa, are you done with everything?"
Thankfully Villa didn't say anything but she still replied back amused, {Yes Clark, it's been done, you should be hearing it right about now…}
Just as she said that the Voice of the World repeated itself in his head.
[Ultimate Skill acquisition, THE GREEN THE LORD OF NATURE.]
Calling up his HUD Clark saw the same thing. Satisfied he was about to activate it before he paused. "Hey Villa a quick question, this Ultimate Skill is not going to make me destroy anything is it?"
{No Clark apart from a little overwhelming sensation there is nothing wrong in using this.}
"Alright, alright…" Moving his arms back in stretches, while popping his neck. Clark began to prep himself up preparing to use his new Skill. Candidly speaking he was afraid, afraid of what might happen if his skills run amok once more. It was only through sheer luck that he had escaped the last one, and what he got from it was Fear, so safe to say he didn't want to even use this today. But all that happened was his fault, all of it, and while he wasn't a plant life activist, he still felt responsible for their apparent demise, so if this could bring them back, then it was only appropriate to cast away his uneasiness.
"Ultimate Skill… THE GREEN THE LORD OF ALL NATURE." The earth beneath Clark greened as the grass grew slithering all over his body before gathering over his head taking the shape of a halo like coronet, his eyes normal blue became a light shade green, and his body began to emanate a green gossamer aura. But what marveled Clark was the power.
Unlike the overpowering might of his Kryptonian Skill, the unhinged nature of his New God Skill or even the creepiness of his Lantern Skill. This Skill was overflowing but most important of all manageable, it was like he was everywhere all at once, and the power this Skill contained could even be compared to his other skills. The fact that he could use this one better made it his now new favorite. With a smile he beheld the world in new eyes, It's beautiful,' Clark said to himself with a smile. Oh why couldn't he had have this first…
While Clark was raging internally, the activation of his Ultimate Skill stirred up all of nature's denizens.
In the hidden Dryad settlement.
A light green woman of great beauty gasp opened her eyes waking up underneath the shade of an immobile treant.
"Treyni…" A voice said besides her, the woman turned to another woman who had her appearance only her hair was shorter. With serene smile she greeted, "Trya…"
With a smile of her own Trya nodded, "Yes sister, please tell me can you feel the same thing, please reassure me that this is not an illusion…"
Fluttering her eyes, Treyni stood up descending down the large roots of the sentiment immobile tree her aqua dress billowing from the forest winds, her teal eyes beset in joy, "I can feel it too. Oh Trya, the consciousness of nature sings aloud, the elementals of all colors shiver in joy…" She moved holding the hands of her sister in bubbling elation. "The lord who shall lead us has been coronated in this land Trya. Gaia has finally manifested her will."
The sound of footsteps showed the gathering of female dryads occupants of the settlements, all showing various intensity of joy, amazement and happiness. Clearing her throat Treyni declared sternly, but still failed to hide the enthusiasm in her tone. "Everyone there is no time, come, leave everything. Let us process out and go welcome to our new Lord."
They all nodded as one, the hovering stem on their person snaked to the earth, and one by one, the dryads submerged into the grass moving on, their destination. Canat mountain ranges.
The Labyrinth.
"Ei, follow up you lazing bones! Why are you still lazing around here!" A small male humanoid creature of light pulled. He had a long blond hair, light blue eyes with markings over his body. His face squeezed while pulling up the slothful ruler, "You will not stay here while the others leave to welcome the Lord of the Green."
"Eh I will not go, leave me let me snuggle away in peace!" The one being pulled whined back pulling away at the opposite direction persistent in not attending the gathering, "By the way aren't I also an Elemental Queen, why haven't there been this much commotion for me as well?"
The creature of light released the Elemental Queen, arching an eyebrow, "Really Ramiris, do you really have to go there. Elemental Queen who absconded her post due to laziness, leaving almost everything to the Elemental of Light."
Ramiris turned away innocuously whistling, but the piercing gaze of the Light Elemental made her flinch, "I admit that I haven't been doing my duty for the last three thousand…" An interrupting cough and another glare, Ramiris amended, "I mean thirty thousand years, but still that doesn't I'll start doing it now." Waving her tiny hands she shooed away, "So go with the others… see the new King of the Green. I know he'll be better than me anyway…"
The Elemental hesitated for some seconds only decided when he saw the last fire elemental leaving, did he decided to do so, letting out a frustrated air. He said, "Look I know what he did to you and the others was unforgivable but still, Ramiris you've got to let go." Seeing that there was no reply, he gave one last frustrated sigh, and flew away.
As the Light Elemental left leaving Ramiris alone in the Labyrinth, she gave a melancholic sigh looking at the hole which they all used to leave, "I too want to go out, Light-chan. But I know who has been crowned the new Ruler of the Green. But, will he still remember me… and if he does, will he still want me…" She fingered the silver necklace that had a familiar S emblem. "Clark… will you come see me?" And she flew back to the depths of her maze.
In the Great Jura Forest.
Rimuru rubbed his belly which began to feel uncomfortable some seconds. Did I eat something that didn't agree with me this morning? Or was it this apocalyptic incident with Clark?' He was with his subordinates by his side as they all went back to Canat mountain ranges.
The bubble barrier had lobbed him back to town, which promptly dispersed after his arrival, but still he had to go verify what was happening. –The Demon Seed was charge to rule over the forest after all-
He would have arrived more quickly but based on the fact that the others couldn't fly and they wouldn't allow him to go unaccompanied, he decided to run with the others. He looked sideways spying the uncharacteristic mute Shion, a bead of sweat in the side of her head that did not come from as a result of tiredness, but on who she was about to see. But could he blame her?
Just looking at Hakurou, Benimaru, Souei and even the ferocious Ranga all looked like they wanted to be somewhere other than here. And he wouldn't blame them, because honestly he was of the same feeling as well.
Parallax, apart from an overpowered kryptonian he just had to be a yellow lantern as well.' Groaning Rimuru decided that he had to get a least a through explanation on Clark's cheats –because that's what they were- He hadn't forgotten the second Ultimate Skill he had displayed before even his lantern Skill.
OLGRUN THE GOD OF MADNESS
Just the name chilled his non-existent bones, it was that scary! Olgrun from what he found out when skimming his memory was an Old God in DC comics, the strongest of them all and also the one with a mental health problem. That and probably the energy pillar that held the potency to burn the entire continent a hundred times over…
He would have just left Clark to himself. That is if he didn't remember the way his eyes looked back then. Pain, tears, guilt… it was all too heavy that Rimuru emphasized with him.
Folding his arms as he rode on the body of Ranga, he groused, "Ah… why do I have a big heart, it's going to put me in trouble one of this days."
"Rimuru-sama…" Shion called in concern seeing her lord's scowl.
"Ah it's nothing Shion." He brushed off, not paying attention to her hesitant nod. Another warm feeling in his belly brought his hands as he rubbed it uneasily. Maybe when he gets back he could have Great Sage perform a prognosis.
And so Rimuru and his retinue shot away in blinding speeds heading back from where they came.
At Canat Mountain Ranges.
Eyeing at the shriveled up grass Clark began, " Sub-effect, The Revitalizer…" The phantom image of vibrant leaf materialized above Clark, and from it a single drop of water cascaded to the earth, the effects were fast. Visibly the vitality returned as the shriveled up grass and trees all began to regain their norm green, and if Clark was to have any say, they looked more vibrant and lush than before.
" Thank you oh Lord of the Green. We have been resuscitated only by your grace. " The voice returned again this time having a solitary voice that than the multitude. " Our lives are yours to command. "
Still disconcerted that he was talking to a plant –or in this case plants and trees in this case- Clark replied, "Yeah it's no problem, it's actually my fault in the first place."
"But nevertheless, it was by your power I am made whole again, and granted even more vitality than before. Thank you. "
Clark threw a two finger salute, "Once again you're welcome." At the silence of the hive-mind, he looked up to the sky notice it was getting pass afternoon. He had to see the others, if nothing else but to apologize. As he was about to deactivate his Ultimate Skill. He heard something that made him pause.
First, he saw tiny spots of light, probably thousands of them heading towards him, concentrating he realized they were actually small humanoid creatures with butterfly like wings.
"Are those faeries?" Clark said to himself bewildered.
Setting into a defensive pose, he waited for any sign of aggression only for him to hear cries of joy when the little beings arrived.
"It's really him. It's the King!" One blue female cried in joy.
"He's very tall!" A red fairy commented in awe.
"Of course he is idiot, he's the King!" A purple fairy admonished.
"He looks strong too…"
Looking around in a state of utter confusion, Clark tried to make head of what was going on. "Um, can anyone tell me please what's going on?"
"Oh, I will, I will." An ash glowing fairy said while preening as he heard the envious whines of his fellow elementals, "My King, I am a Time Medium Elemental, please use me however you desire." He sounded so smugly and surely like Clark was supposed to know what that even meant. But still the kryptonian filled the name for later research. "We have all gathered here to worship you as the new Lord of the Green."
Clark eyes widened, "Lord of the Green?! how do you know that term?"
Shrugging the time elemental replied, "I don't know. But that's not important because you're going to become our first King." And then it flew towards the others.
Stuttering Clark tried to make sense of what the elemental meant, when the others arrived. Giant gnomes with blue glowing Mohawk, big like hunching horned lizards. Bizarre humanoid beings of his size, all watching him with various intensity of adoration.
Gulping the kryptonian had realized that they were all filling the entire clearing meaning they were over thousands of them, and more still kept on coming. Excited murmurings about the seeing the first King droned out.
Clark was about to jet off and leave all this behind when the grass before him rippled and what arose was a bevy of beautiful but strange like women with green hairs and floating stems wrapped around their body.
"Ok~ now are you all supposed to be the group that will explain to me what is the hell going on?" Clark asked dubiously. For as gratifying as it was that they all looked at him with such adulated eyes, all of this was too suspicious, and he had half the mind to enter Fear lantern mode.
"Treyni-san?! What are you doing here?" Clark turned to see the astonished face of Rimuru with all his entourage with him looking at the group of women, while gawking at the congregation before them.
Before Clark could call out to Rimuru, a woman broke off from the group arriving before the Light God and genuflected on the earth, "Hail to the manifestation of Gaia, the Lord of the Green, and the first King of the Elementals."
Instantly the women behind her in addition to every spirit from lesser to greater took to the earth mimicking her all saying as one. " Hail!"
To the grandiose addressing Clark just replied back while looking dumb, "Eh?!"
Authors Note,
As this is the first time that I've written such a long chapter please spare me if you spot any kind of grammatical errors. Now for the story, firstly I know some will say that Rimuru was supposed to see Clark even when moving at superspeed because Thought Acceleration is that good and they are right, but for the sake of the story I said Rimuru could not do so.
Why? Well that's for me to know and for you to guess.
Now as you can see from shut in NEET, Ramiris little scene. That she had hinted of knowledge of our resident friendly neighborhood hero, Spid-…! I mean Superboy-Prime, so can any of you guess what their relationship is?
If you're correct I will P.M you.
Next up. Chatting beneath the Moon…
Pls Comment, Favorite and Follow it really helps a lot.
